Associate Manager - Trend & Concept

About us

LOFT creates modern, feminine, versatile clothing for women with one common style goal: to look and feel confident wherever the day takes them. We empower women to find their authentic self-expression because feeling like yourself is always in style.Here at LOFT, we're busy styling the careers and supporting the lives of everyday optimists just like you. Express your authentic self and experience endless inspiration, all while enjoying the opportunities and benefits that help you get the most from your career, life, and wardrobe.

About the Position

The Associate Manager, Trend & Concept plays a key role in identifying emerging fashion, cultural, and consumer trends and translating insights into inspiring seasonal concepts that support the brand vision. This position partners closely with Design, Merchandising, Marketing, and Product Development teams to help shape product direction through trend research, concept development, color stories, print inspiration, and market analysis. The Associate Manager will connect trend insights with commercial opportunities and help influence seasonal product and storytelling strategies. The ideal candidate is highly creative, trend-focused, and passionate about fashion, with a strong understanding of the customer and retail landscape.

The impact you can have

• Research and analyze fashion, cultural, consumer, competitive, and retail trends to identify emerging opportunities for the brand.
• Monitor runway shows, street style, social media, industry publications, and trend forecasting resources to stay informed on evolving trends.
• Translate trend insights into actionable recommendations for seasonal product categories, color direction, prints, patterns, and styling concepts.
• Assist in defining trend-driven narratives, color palettes, fabric directions, print concepts, and styling vision for each season.
• Partner closely with Design teams to ensure trend and concept direction is effectively integrated into seasonal assortments.
• Collaborate with Merchandising to align concepts with customer needs, line plans, and business objectives.
• Work with Marketing and Creative partners to ensure seasonal storytelling and product styling remain consistent across channels.
• Develop and present compelling presentations that communicate trend insights, concept direction, and seasonal opportunities.
• Organize and maintain trend libraries, inspiration resources, and seasonal concept archives.
• Clearly articulate ideas and recommendations to diverse audiences across the organization.

You’ll bring to the role

• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Merchandising, Trend Forecasting, or a related field.
• 2-4 years of experience in trend forecasting, concept development, fashion design, color, textile design, merchandising, or a related creative role.
• Strong understanding of women's apparel, retail trends, and the fashion marketplace.
• Exceptional eye for color, print, pattern, silhouette, styling, and emerging trends.
• Ability to translate creative inspiration into commercially relevant product concepts.
• Strong presentation, communication, and storytelling skills.
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, PowerPoint, Keynote, and Microsoft Office.
• Experience creating trend reports, mood boards, concept presentations, and seasonal storytelling materials preferred

Benefits at KnitWell Group 

• You will be eligible to receive a merchandise discount at select KnitWell Group brands, subject to each brand’s discount policies.
• Support for your individual development plus career mobility within our family of brands    
• A culture of giving back – local volunteer opportunities, annual donation and volunteer match to eligible nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic activities to support our communities*   
• Medical, dental, vision insurance & 401(K) retirement*  
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Time off – paid time off & holidays* 
• The target salary range for this role is: $68,000-$70,000

*Any job offer will consider factors such your qualifications, relevant experience, and skills. Eligibility of certain benefits and associate programs are subject to employment type and role.  

Applicants to this position must be authorized to work for any employer in the US without sponsorship. We are not providing sponsorship for this position. 

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Location:

Times Square Tower-ANN-New York, NY 10036

Position Type:

Regular/Full time

Equal Employment Opportunity
The Company is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Hiring decisions are based upon a candidate's qualifications as they relate to the requirements of the position under consideration and are made without regard to sex (including pregnancy), race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other category protected by applicable law. The Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position you are seeking or to participate in the application process, please contact [email protected]. The Company will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified applicants or employees, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the operations of the Company’s business. The Company will not revoke or alter a job offer based on an applicant’s request for reasonable accommodation.